Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Taoiseach about the abolition of mandatory retirement. As he will be aware, Sinn Féin tabled legislation that was supported by his party in opposition in the previous Dáil and which we will be reintroducing in the coming weeks. This legislation, when passed, will give workers a choice to retire at 65 or to work on. Forcing workers to retire at 65, as his Government partners are finding out, when they are fit and able and may want to work on, especially where they cannot access the State pension rate of pay, is deeply unfair. Will the Taoiseach elaborate on any discussions that have taken place and any work done on this important worker's rights issue by the economic division of his Department?

This morning, Ms Patricia King, the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, outlined deep concerns that she and ICTU affiliates have in relation to a complete lack of consultation on the right to request remote working. The matter is being referred to in industrial relations circles as the right for employers to say no to remote working. The lack of consultation led to deeply flawed legislation. We do not want to see that mistake replicated. What consultation and discussions have taken place on the abolition of mandatory retirement?

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